Part A - Military activity : The Bayou State inevitably became a target for Union land and naval military operations because of its strategic position at the mouth of the Mississippi River as well as the importance of New Orleans as a manufacturing, banking, and trade center. Though not generally thought of as a major battleground during the Civil War, Louisiana was the scene of four military campaigns and 566 military actions of varying size and significance. Thus Louisiana's military role played an integral part in the outcome of the war and had repercussions that extended well beyond the state line. Part B - The home front : The Civil War wrought extensive damage throughout Louisiana and created widespread hardship and suffering for those living in a war zone. In this volume, Arthur W. Bergeron, Jr., outlines the impact of the War Between the States on Louisiana's politics, economy, and society. While not a major battleground, the state was of critical strategic importance to both the Union and the Confederacy because of its vital waterway, the Mississippi River.